Obverse
Obverse description : Buste lauré, drapé et cuirassé de Septime Sévère à droite, vu de trois quarts en arrière.
Obverse legend : L SEP SEUHRON PER SEB.
Reverse
Reverse description : Buste drapé de Julia Domna à droite.
Reverse legend : I DOMNAN SEB EPIFANEWN AXS.
Historical background
SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS and JULIA DOMNA
(193-211)
Septimius Severus was born in 146 in Leptis Magna in Africa (Libya). After a brilliant military career under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus, he was consul suffect in 185. At the time of Pertinax's death, he was Governor of Upper Pannonia. Acclaimed emperor on April 13, 193, he quickly eliminated Dide Julien, his compatriot (June 28), and associated Albin with power as Caesar before fighting Pescennius Niger in the East.. Julia Domna is from Emesa in Syria and daughter of the High Priest of the Baal of Emesa. Septimius Severus married her around 180 and she gave him two sons, Caracalla, born in Lyon in 188, and Géta, born in 189. She was proclaimed Augusta in 194, accompanied the emperor on his travels and therefore received the title of "mother of the camps".. In 195, he fictitiously entered the Antonine family by being adopted post-mortem. He defeats and executes Niger and leads a brilliant campaign in Arabia. In 197, he got rid of his last adversary, Albin, who had proclaimed himself august. Sévère prepares the establishment of his dynasty by giving the title of augusta to Julia, his wife, in 194, of césar to Caracalla, in 196, then of auguste in 198 when Géta, his second son, becomes césar. Severus will spend fifteen years consolidating the borders of the empire by winning many victories over the Parthians (197-198), then in Africa (207), finally in Brittany (208-211) where he dies. During the Brittany expedition, she was regent in Rome. After the death of Septimius Severus, she receives new honors, Mother of the Senate and Mother of the Country, and the titles of Pia Felix (pious and happy). In 212, Geta was assassinated by his brother in the arms of Domna.. During Caracalla's Germanic and Parthian expeditions, Domna remained in Rome. After the death of her son, she is exiled by Macrinus and dies soon after..